What should I be doing with my new stove? 

We will always give you a 'lesson' in how to use your new stove and how to care for your stove and liner before we leave. We are only a phone call away though, so do call if you want further clarification or just a bit of reassurance that you are 'doing it right!',

DO:

• Do ONLY use quality clean, dry firewood, or smokeless fuel. The stove will give you much more heat and you will avoid chimney problems. Burning unseasoned or wet wood causes creosote to build up in the chimney or flue – this is highly flammable and can cause a chimney fire. Creosote can be very difficult to remove and very costly to rectify. In severe cases the chimney may need re-lining completely. Household waste must not be burnt. Avoid unseasoned or wet wood, treated wood & pallets, painted or preserved wood, house coal. Using any unapproved fuel will invalidate the product warranty. 
• Do check your wood is less than 20% moisture inside the log when split. Think about purchasing a digital wood moisture meter – this will enable you to reject a load of ‘seasoned’ firewood if it isn’t less than 20% moisture, or at least avoid a ‘seasoned’ premium on the price! 
• Do get your flue swept, checked for blockages and your stove serviced at least annually and always at the end of your burn season. Don’t leave corrosive material inside your flue over the summer. This is a warranty/guarantee requirement. However if your appliance is used continuously or burns either wood and/or bituminous coal, more frequent sweeping is recommended. Only polypropylene brushes of the correct diameter should be used to prevent damage to the inner liner. Chemical cleaners must not be used. 
• Do always use a fireguard for children and the infirm. 
• Do use the stove gloves and tools provided as needed. 
• Do use the top air control (air wash) to help keep the glass clean. 
• Do warm up the stove fully on the first loads of fuel before reducing the air controls to a lower position. 
• Do keep your stove clean inside and out. 
• Do test your carbon monoxide alarm frequently.

What's the best way to light a fire in my new stove?

A great many of our customers are seasoned solid fuel stove users, and some are first time users - Whatever your level of experience, I learn new things all the time, and it is worth just reading this through to see if you pick up any tips. As with all things, there will be a learning curve as you get used to your new stove, and we're here to help if you struggle with anything! 

Lighting Your Fire:

1. Open all air controls fully. 
2. Grab two medium size logs which fit inside your firebox with a small gap between them
3. Place 3 or 4 bits of kindling in a criss-cross shape bridging the gap
4. Pop a lit firelighter into the gap underneath the kindling
5. As the kindling burns the larger logs will catch and your fire is self-sustained to get the firebox up to a good combustion temperature
6. Leave the fire to burn through and get fully warmed up before reducing the air controls down to a running position. 
7. If you are only burning wood, try to keep the bottom air vent closed and only control using the top air vent. The stove will use less fuel, give out more heat and keep your glass cleaner. 
8. Don’t leave the fire unattended whilst warming up. Inadvertent and damaging over-firing can result. 

When to re-fuel: 

Refuel logs as soon as the flames have burnt out and the logs have turned to crumbling charcoal. Refuel smokeless fuel which has turned to ash all over and heat output is reducing.